Outside pipe cutting tool



L. W. STORM OUTSIDE PIPE CUTTING TOOL Filed Aug. 6. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheetl a lll; l /wl 1 6 n s A n. o a w lll 1,. Il

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' of'A pipe, the wash lor until the rotary =the operator has determinedthat he has washed ion the wash pipe -ed tothe drill string which isthen lowered into made.

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE k2,651,362 ioUTsIDEPIPE CUTTING Tool. Lynn W. Storm, Houston, Tex. ApplicationAugust c, 1947, serial No. 766,523

11 Claims. (Cl. 164-0.6)

TheV invention relates to a washover overshot and outside cutting toolwhich is adapted to be l owered into a well bore to release and cut astuck pipe therein. v

` In present day practice inthe drilling of wells by Vthe rotary methodwherein a bit is placed on the end of a string of pipe, and a holedrilled in the ground-by rotation of the pipe, it is not uncommon forthe pipe to become stuck or twisted oii' in the Well bore. The presentday practice in recovering theV stuck pipe calls for rtwoseparatefoperations. First, a, rotary shoe of sufficient inside diameterto go over the stuck drill pipe and its tool joints, is run into thehole yon theend of a large diameter pipe suiicient to telescope over thestuck pipe. This large -diameter pipe is commonly called a wash pipe andit in turn is attached to 'a string of drill 'pipe of sufficientlengthto reach the depth of the stuck pipe. As the tool progressesdownwardly over the stuck pipe, successive lengths of drillstring may beadded. Upon enga-gement of the stuck pipe with the rotary shoe, it isnecessary to manipulate the vstring of pipe with respect to termentioned projects inwardly and upwardly into the wash pipe. After thisis accomplished the string of pipe, the wash pipe, and the ro- 'taryshoe are rotated and lowered so that the shoe tends to dig out materialthat -ing to the side of the stuck pipe.

It is common practice during this operation to pump a mud fluid downthrough the string pipe, and out into the formation adjacent the rotaryshoe so that the is :stickcuttings can be carried away from the vicinity'ofthe operation. This procedure is continued untilit is determined thatthe pipe has been completely freed from the side of the well bore, shoebecomes dull, or when Vdown over al1 of the stuck pipe that he can. #Theentire string of pipe is then withdrawn Afrom the well and the rotaryshoe is replaced by a cutting 01T side pipe cutter.

tool commonlyV called an out- The cutter is then lowered andthe washpipe connectcutter, the pipe is either raised, or lowered, or

`rotated, or pumped through to engage a tool joint and to make the cuton the stuck pipe.

V.If a successful cut isaccomplished then the l the stuck pipe so thatthe lat- .lease the stuck pipe, to the top ofl the well bore all in one.opera- 2 cutter, the washover string, and the drill pipe along with thesevered portion of the stuck pipe are withdrawn from the hole, sectionby section. If an additional Vlength of pipe remains stuck in the wellbore, the rotary shoe is replaced on the end of the wash string andlowered into the well bore to cut the formation away from the stuckpipe. After this is completed, the cutter is replaced for the rotaryshoe and another cutting operation is attempted. This procedurecontinues until lall of the pipe has been removed from the well.

However, if it is determined by the operator during the making of a cuton the stuck pipe, that a successful cut cannot be accomplished.

Vit is then necessary to' try to'free the cutting tool from the stuckpipe and remove it from fc'harge it adjacent the rotary shoe since theuid will pass outwardly through the'holes in the body above the shoethereby losing circulation to the bottom :adj acent the shoe.

A primary object therefore of the present invention is to provide' acombination washover overshot and outside pipe cutter which can recut ifoff, and retrieve it tion.

Another object of the invention is to provide va combination tool havingno holes Ythrough the body thereof so that the circulation of drillinguid can be effected downwardly through the tool todischarge it adjacentthe rotary shoe Von the lowerend thereof.

Another object is to washover overshot and provide a combination cuttingtool which cutting tool can be engaged and released at will from thestuck iish.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combinationwashover overshot and outside pipe cutter which may be released at willfrom the once engaged stuck pipe, and which may be reengaged with'thestuck pipe without damaging or fracturingY various elements of the tool.Y A ,Another objectgof the invention is to provide a combinationwashover overshot and outside cutting tool which is arranged totelescope over a stuck pipe in a well bore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination washoverovershot and cutting tool, which tool is provided with gripping means togrip the released pipe and cutting means which is arranged to cut thereleased pipe.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combinationwashover overshot and outside cutting tool which is provided withgripping means and cutting means to grip and cut a stuck pipe in thewell bore, which means are arranged to normally be in inactive position,but movable to and from engagement with the stuck pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination washoverovershot and cutting tool which is arranged to telescope downwardly overa stuck pipe in a well bore and then to cut the stuck pipe in two, andthen to retrieve the f cut portion, all in oneV trip.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a washover overshot,gripping means which are normally retained in inactive position whilethe tool is telescoping downwardly over the stuck pipe, but which aremovable to and from engaging position therewith. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide in a washover overshot aslip cage and slip means along with a ly retained in inoperativeposition while the overshot is being telescoped downwardly over thestuck pipe, but which holder is'- movable to engage the slips with thestuck pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an outside cutter,cutter members which are adapted to remain in inactive position whilethe tool is being lowered over a stuck sh in the well bore, but movableto and from operative position after the pipe has been engaged.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a cutter, whichis arranged to telescope downwardly over a stuck pipe in a well bore,cutter members which are resiliently urged to cutting action against thestuck pipe.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be morereadily apparent from a consideration of the following description inconnection with the accompanyingi drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View, partially in elevation, of theupper part of the tool;

Fig. 2 is a continuation of Fig. 1 showing the lower part of the tool;

. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the upper part of the toolshowing the tool engaged with a stuck pipe in the wellk bore;

Fig. 6 is a continuation of the tool shown in Fig. 5 showing thelowermost part of the tool with the cutters advanced to their centermostposition against the stuck pipe;

Fig. 'l' is a section taken on the line Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8V i's a Fig. 6.

The tool shown in Fig. 1 comprises a body 2 secured by means of threads3 to a sub 4 which is in turn provided with threads 5 for connection toa suitable length of wash pipe. The sub 4 is splined at 'I to receiveslip cage nut 9 cotting therewith. The slip cage nut B is in turnthread- 'I-l of section taken on the line 8-8 of slidable slip holderwhich is resilient- .limited by the pin 45- i ed at I to the slip cageIl which is provided at I3 with windows to receive the slips I4.Adjacent the windows I3, the slip cage is tapered inwardly anddownwardly at I5 to guide the slips outwardly into engagement with thepipe to be engaged and cut.

The slip holder I'I is slidably arranged on the slip cage and isconnected to the slips by means of the rod I8 which is connected at I9to the slip holder and passes downwardly through the opening I9 in theslip cage Il, and is connected at to the slips I4. A spring 2| isarranged around the rod I8 and rests on the shoulder 2|. The spring 2Iabuts against the slip holder or piston I'I and is provided so as toretain the slip holder in an uppermost position so that the slips I4will be positioned in the windows or on a portion of the bevelled faceI5 so that they will not while being lowered contact the pipe to beengaged and cut. The port 22 through the slip cage nut 9 provides access:for a pressure fluid to the top 23 of the slip holder I'I. A dischargeport 24 in the slip cage il provides access for a iiuid pressure toenter into the space 25 between the body 2 and the slip cage II so thatan equal pressure will be exerted upon the top 23 and the bottom 26 ofthe slip cage holder while the tool is being lowered over the stuck pipein the well.

The lower end of thev slip cage il is provided with a clutch element at21 to mate with the clutch element 21 of the drive sleeve 28 whichserves asa link between the upper and lower portions of the tool. Drivesleeve 28 is provided with an annular ridge 29 which serves as a stopfor spring 30 which is slidably mounted over the drive sleeve. Thespring 30 rests on bevelled or tapered sleeve 3i which is slidablymounted relative to the driveY sleeve 28 by means of the pin 32 in theguide slot 33. A cotting bevelled plate 35, immediately below the plate3I, is connected to the ring gear 3S by means of the clutch construction3l. The ring gear 36 is provided with teeth 38 on the lower end thereof,which are arranged to fit teeth 3'9 on cutter 40 which is pivoted in thebody 2 by suitable means such as screws 4I. The cutters 4i! are providedwith replaceable knife inserts 52.

Bearings 43 in the race 44 resting on the annular shoulder 44immediately below the slip cage II, are provided to permit relativerotation between the parts' as hereinafter described. It is to be notedVthat the upward travel of slips I4 is therethrough which rests onshoulder 4670i the slip pin pocket 41 which is arranged on the outerperiphery of slip cage Il.

Downward movement of the slips may be continued until the pin 45 engagesthe shoulder 48 whichA is the bottom of the slip pin pocket 41.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 the tool is shown in e gaging and cuttingposition in a well bore. In actual operation of the tool it would beconnected to a string of wash pipe and the wash pipe would then beconnected to a string of drill pipe of the required length to completethe releasing of the stuck pipe from the well bore. v

As the tool is telescoped downwardly over the stuck pipe it will berotated whereupon the rotary shoe which is provided with teeth 5I, willout away stuck material from adjacent the pipe. A mud iluid iscirculated downwardly through the tool to discharge at the lower endthereof adjacent the rotary shoe to carry away the cuttings oi' theearth formation from the tool, and to permit it to descend around thecut pipe.

the engagement of When 'the operator has determined that he hastelescoped over a suilicient'` length of stuck-pipe, shown'in dottedoutline in Figs. 1, 2,v 5, and 6 at 60, he raises the tool while mudcirculationis maintained. f When l'the A vpressure port -24 is broughtopposite a .tool "joint 60 as shown in dotted line 'in Fig. 5,the port22 is then located abovev the tool'joint, thus producing a pressuredifferential between ports 22 and 24.`

' --Under this condition, greater pressure willbe exerted throughtheport 22 andon to the top 23 ofthe slip'holder I 'I than will be exertedon the nether-surface 26 through the port 24, since the upper'pressureport 22 is adjacentfthe drill` pipe where Vthe -luid is moving ataslowervelocity than adjacent the port 24which is adjacent the drilljoint 6I VDue to the difference in the velocity of the fluid adjacentthe upper port 22 and that adjacent the lower port 24, ahigher pressurearea will be created in the lower velocity area; This 4difference inpressure causes the -slip holder -I`Ijto move downwardly whereupon theslips I4 move downwardly and outwardly on to the bevelled surface I5"ofthe slip`I cage II to engage the tooljoint as'at63.- ff l fl InIorder toinsure a positive engagement ofthe slipsYILwith the tool-jointatl63 theoperator takes `anA upward pull vupon the string of. pipe which firmlyseats the teeth 64 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. :7, againstthesurface of the stuck pipe at 263. Upward movement of the tool serves toposition the slipI cageiII downwardly along with the drive sleeve V28,which moves downwardly whereupon the annular ridge 29 being engaged tothe lspring 30" compresses the spring downwardly.'-

At the same time clutch 1 is separated as shown in Fig. 5 inl contrastto its position showninFig-1.. c .Y 1

At this lstage of operation' the slip cage is rest` mg upon the ballrace44 so that relative rotation may be imparted to the body 2-withouteffecting the slips with the stuck pipe. Thefcompression-of lthe spring30 forces plate 3I against plate 35 to` a `certain point. lRight' handrotationofv the tool causes the 'teeth 3 9 on the cutters 40 to engagewith the teeth 38 in thering gear 36 so that thercutters aremovdoutwardly to engage the stuck pipe.` v' The Vfree rotation of theknife is, however, only momentary and proceeds 'only to the/point thatthe cutterelement Vcontactsv the iish-fwhere upon the cutter tends todig into the fish bythe amount of frictionbuiltint-'o the coneclutch'elements 3I and'35. 'This point i'salmost instantly reached andthe clutch becomes over-loaded and startsfslipping. fAs the tool isrotated thecltch supplies va continuous given amountof 'drag't the kniiewhich-continues to cut away" the lsh and advance deeper into the fishwith each rota- 'ti-on by virtue "of the efforts of the slipping clutchtofhold the ring gear stationary. As the cutting progresses the pinionarmor knifecombination revolves about its Vpin4I,'the'cuttingfedge'always advancing towardV the center of thefishuntil the pipeissevered. .I `.f-If forany reason the operatordeterminesthat he is unable to` make his cut on'thelstuck'pipe, therotation of .the tool is reversed and-the cutters will back up intoretracted position as shown in Figfl. If the operator should decide toremove theV toolfrom the well bore, he maygdisengage the slips I4 fromthe pipe-at 63 by-merelystopping move the slip upwardly, therebywithdrawing the slips I4 offv of the bevelled face 'I5 and` into 'thewindows I3. An alternate method of releasing the tool from the stuckpipe is to lower the tool until the pressure port 22 is adjacent thetool joint 6I), while the pressure port 24 is therebeneath. The reversepositioning of the two pres'- sure ports causes a pressure differentialin such a manner so that the slip holder moves up wardly, therebydisengaging the slips I4 from the fish 60.

Broadly the invention contemplates a combination washover overshot andoutside cutting tool which is adapted to be lowered into a well bore forreleasing and cutting a stuck pipe therein and retrieving the cutportion from the well bore. 1

The invention claimed is:

1. A :combination side cutter for releasing and cutting a portion of astuck pipe in a well bore comprising, a body, a slip cagereleasablyconnected thereto, a pressure sleeve slidable on said slipcage, slips connected to said sleeve, there being windows with inwardlyand downwardly tapered surfaces in said slip cage to receive said slipsand for moving said slips outwardly into engagement with the pipe to becut, a drive sleeve connected to said slip cage, tapered means slidablyconnected to said drive sleeve, cutters mounted in said body; a taperedsleeve engaging said cutters and arranged to t said first mentionedtapered means, resilient means engaging said pressure sleeve to normallyretain said slips in retracted position,

said sleeve being movable by iluid pressure to` move said slips toengagement with the pipe to be cut, and means operable when an upwardpull is thereafter exerted on said body to frictionally engage saidtapered means with said tapered sleeve whereby rotation of said bodytherewith moves said cutters into engagement with the pipe to be cut.

2. In a washover outside pipe cutter for releasing and cutting a shstuck in a well bore, said cutter having a rotary shoe thereon, a body,a slip cage slidable in said body and releasably engaged therewith, asleeve slidable on said cage, slips connected to said sleeve and fittingin said slip cage, there being inwardly and downwardly tapered surfaceson said slip cage for moving said slips outwardly to engage the iish,resilient means engaging said sleeve to normally retain said slipsdisengaged from said sh, said sleeve being movable by fluid pressure tomove said slips outwardly to engage said sh, a drive sleeve connected tosaid slip cage, a bowl slidably connected to -said drive sleeve, acooperating-tapered sleeve'therebeneath, 'said bowl and tapered sleevebeing normally in sliding engagement, and means operable when an upwardpull is exerted on the overshot after engagement with the pipe t'o becut to frictionally engage said bowl and tapered sleeve.

3. A tool for lowering into a well-bore to wash over and cut `stuck pipefor removal from'the Well bore comprising, an elongate cylindrical bodyto wash over such pipe, a gripping member Arotatably mounted in suchbody and movable tol and from engagement with such pipe, cutters mountedin said body, a tubular member slidably connected to said grippingmember, meshing gearing means on said tubular memberand said cutters tomove said cutters into and out of engagement with such pipe, saidcutters normally `retained in inactive position, upward pull on saidbody frictionally engagingsaid tubular 'member and said. grippingrnemberwhereby rotatingof washover overshoty and outsaid body thereafter movessaid cutters into engegen-lent with such pipe..

4'- Arr overshot forl lowering into a well bore toawashover a fish forremoval therefrom oomprising, an elongate cylindrical body, a tubularslipf cage and an elongate tubular sleeve in said body, a piston ringdisposed between such body and sleeve and slidable in. said body, slipssupported by' said piston ring and fitting in said slip cage, therebeing inwardly and downwardly tapered; guide surfaces' on said slip cagefor moving said slips inwardly to engage-the sh, and means for:releasablyvsupporting said slips in a portion ofthe guidevsurfaceswhere` they will not be in engagement with the fish to begripped, vertically spaced uid inlet means in said sleeve establishingfluid communication with bottom and top faces of said piston ring, saidpiston ring, being moveable by circulation of fluid in such well borewhen said body is telescoped over' such fish and the fluid inletmeans'establishing fluid communication with one face of such piston ring isproximate an enlargement on the fish.

5. A washover overshot adapted to be lowered into a well bore andmanipulated therein to engage a pipe comprising, an elongate cylindricalbody,l a tubular slip cage and an elongate tubular sleeve in said body,a piston ring disposed between said body and sleeve and slidable in saidbody, slips connected to and movable by said piston ring, said slipcageand slips having cooperating guide and slide surfaces respectively formoving said slips inwardly into engagement with such pipe, resilientmeans normally retaining said slips in portions ofl saidguide surfacesout of engagement with such pipe, vertically spaced liuid inlet means insaid sleeve. establishing iiuid communication with bottom and top facesof said piston ring, said piston ring being moveable byV circulation offluid in such well' bore when said body is telescoped over su-ch pipeand the fluid inlet means establishing communication with one face ofsuch piston ring is proximate an enlargement on such pipe.

6. An outside pipe cutter comprising, a body, a gripping member in saidbody movable to and from engagement with the pipe to be cut, cuttersmounted in said body, a pair of beveled coiitting sleves rotatable insaid body, one of such sleeves being connected to and actuating saidcutters, resilient means connecting such other sleeve to suchv grippingmember and normally urging such last mentioned sleeve into slidingengagement with such first mentioned sleeve, movement of such bodyrelative to such gripping member resiliently and frictionally engagingsuch pair of co-flttingf beveled sleeves whereby rotation of such bodyrelative thereto moves said cutters to and from cutting position.

'Ir In an outside pipev cutter a body, a gripping member in said bodymovable by fluid pressure to grip the pipe to be out, cutters mounted insaid body, a pair of beveled co-litting sleeves in said body, one ofsaid sleeves being connected te and actuating said cutters, the other ofsaid sleeves being connected to said gripping member, said sleeves beingnormally in slidable engagement but frictionally engageable by an upwardpulll on said cutter after said gripping member has engaged the pipe tobe out whereby rotation of said body relative to said sleeve moves thecutters to and from cutting position.

`81 A cutter tool adapted to be positioned over a pipe in ya wellcomprising a body, ya slip cage and slip means having cooperating guideand 8 slide surfaces respectively, said slip means being normallyretained in aportion of the guide. where they will not be in engagementwith the pipe to be cut but movable to engagement with the pipe at -apredetermined time, means to permit relativerotation of said body andgripping member upon movement of said gripping member into engagementwith such pipe, cutters mounted in said body, a pair of beveledcoiitting sleeves. rotatable on said body, one: of said sleevesengagingsaid cutters, resilient meansy connecting the other sleeve to said slipcage and normally urging the last mentioned bevelled sleeve into slidingengagement with the rst mentioned sleeve, said resilient mean-s beingoperable upon upward movement of such body relative to such slip cage tofrictionally engage said pair of bevelled sleeves together wtherebyrotation of said body relative thereto moves said cutters to and fromcutting position. I

9. In a tool to be lowered into and manipulated in a well bore havingdrill fluid therein, a body, a slip holder slideable in said body havingslips connected thereto, said slips being expansible and retractablevupon movement of said slip holder, fluid reservoirs inA said body aboveandbelow and in. communication with upper and lower ends of said slip'holder,l a first port in communication with the fluid reservoir abovesuch slipl holder, and a second port spaced fromy said rst port and incommunication with the fluid reservoir below saidslip holder, said slipholder being moveable by a differential in pressure created bycirculating drill fluid wfhen said tool is positioned adjacent a memberto be gripped and one of such ports is positioned proximate arestriction in such wellbore.

10. The method of actuating ay slip assembly in a. bore hole having welliiuid therein, said slip assembly including a movable piston responsiveto fluid pressure differential to which slips are secured and includingspaced fluid pressure inlet means providing fluid. communication withopposite sides of said piston comprising, positioning said slip assemblyin such bore hole adjacent a member to be gripped, positioningV thatportion of such inlet means providing fluid communication with one sideof said piston adjacent a restriction in such bore hole,V and'circulating drill fluid in such bore [hole whereby fluid circulatingproximate said inlet means creates a pressure differential on oppositesides of said piston thereby actuating said piston and moving saidslipsy to and from gripping position with such member to be gripped.

1l. Ina tool lated to grip a member to be lowered into and manipuin awell bore, such well bore having drill uid therein comprising, anelongate cylindrical body, ya tubular slip cage and a tubular sleeve insaidy body', a pressure ring slidably disposed between said sleeve andbody, saidpressure* ring being movable by fluid pressure and havingupper and lower piston faces, rstfluid inlet means above and in fluidcommunication with such upper piston face, second fluid inlet meansspaced below and in fluid communication with such lowerY piston face,gripping elements supported by said pressure ring and movable to andfrom gripping position by saidpressure ring, such slip ca-ge and slipshaving cooperating guide Iand slide surfaces respectively for movingsaid slips into and out of gripping engagement with said member, andresilient means disposed between said body and said slip cage' andengaging said pressure ring to normally retain said slips in .a portionof the guide Where References Cited in the le of this patent they willnot be in engagement tlie mem- UNITED STATES PATENTS ber to be gripped,said pressure ring being movable by differential in pressure created bycir- Number Name Date cuiating such driii iiud when said tool is posi- 512771600 Kafmmefer Sept 3, 1918 tioned about the member to be grippedand one 1625391 Remy et al A1311 19, 1927 of such inlet means isproximate an enlarge- 19191831 Ellis July 25, 1933 ment on such member-1,960,337 Gilstrap etal May 29, 1934 2,202,985 Ellis June 4, 1940 LYNNW. STORM. 10 2,277,58() Carotliers Mai'. 24, 1942

